iOS 5 iMessages vs. BlackBerry BBM - Fight!

How does Apple's brand new iOS 5iMessage compare to the stalwart Blackberry BBM on BB OS 6? Check out the video above as Kevin Michaluk and Bla1ze from CrackBerry.com bring their Berrys to the table against the iPhone for a one-on-one instant messaging show down! Does BlackBerry still own the crack, or has iOS just become leader of the pack?

BBM is far more functional -- I joked it's like the FaceBook of IM with groups, comments, and more -- while iOS keeps things really simple and bundles it right into the SMS/MMS app.

They're both really snappy, both show writing and delivered states, and offer read receipts, and both are proprietary (yeah) so no cross-platforming yet. BBM is a huge lock-in on BlackBerry and might be the same on iOS.

Could this be enough to make RIM finally bring BBM to iOS? Which would you prefer?

Tbh I think all the platforms have there advantages and disadvantages but for me it's the style and build quality of Apple products as the way a device looks is as important as what it can do for me personally.

Would be nice to have an iPhone 5 now to use it. With all the other products gearing up to be released this summer, I think Apple made a mistake not getting in the mix in June. iPhone 5 will be a great product, but in September, or August, just not sure if this was a good move.

Nope; 'twas from the heart! A 4 was my first iPhone, no way was I parting with my hard earned cash for earlier versions. Technically they were substandard and I mean well below what the rest of the Market had to offer. There's a whole plethora of annoying, lack of forethough design "flaws" and now, I'm not holding my breath that iOS 5 will crack the back of these!!! Premium price, (I paid £599 for my phone) dire OS! =-)

RIM can't bring BBM to iOS now that it would directly compete with a core functionality of iOS. That's almost certainly why Apple rushed the product out with such limited functionality - to keep RIM out of the garden.

Anyway, would have been nice to have an iPhone 5 now to use this. IOS 5, and iPhone 5 will be great, but with all the newer devices out now, and more coming, did Apple take a chance waiting until Sept, or even later? I can wait, but it is hard.

When I had my BB I used BBM, but not often enough for it to be a dealbreaker if any other phone didn't have it. I much prefer iOS as an overall package, and having iMessage helps to make it even more well-rounded as a platform.

I have both the iPhone 4 and Blackberry Bold. As much as the iPhone is better than the Blackberry, there is no contest as far as BBM vs. iMessage. BBM is vastly superior. That's not to say that in the future, with updates, that iMessage won't surpass BBM. But, for the time being, BBM is the king of IM.

BBM has also been around for a very, very long time. iMessage is still in beta. I think that iMessage could eventually overtake BlackBerry Messenger, but it really matters with what your friends have. You can use BlackBerry Messenger all you want, but if I still have my Atrix then it means nothing, and the same applies to those with iMessage. The king of IM will be one that makes a high quality, cross-platform application.

I'm a little confused here, forgive me. What's the point exactly in iMessage? I mean, I don't get it, it's text messaging between 2 iPhones/iOS devices? Other than communication between iPhone and say iPad, what's the point?
Also, did tipb change the site? I don't get the mobile version I loved so much anymore and can't figure out how to switch it back?

BB does have a unfied inbox option that autimatically switches to the corresponding app when you select a message, be it BBM, email, or sms. You can also assign a hardware button for quick access to BBM and assign tones. You also didn't mention that BBM lets you customize your status, lets others see what your listening to, leave your thoughts like Facebook, and can let other users know in what time zone you are in.
I just switched from BB to iPhone and I can say that I do miss the integration of messaging into the phone that BB has. So for now I resort to Pingchat since most of my friends are on BB. So definitely would love to see RIM give iPhone some love.

its not even a comparison. ios is way better. if you get a text or bbm on a berry you have to go to 2 different spots to find them. the only thing bbm had on ios is that the bbm was free well now ios is free too. bbm is just another way to text. you can use whatever its all the same sms bbm aim yahoo facebook chat whatever its all the same bbm isnt special. i love when i hear i wont give up the berry cause of bbm. its like using an 8 track tape

you got to be kidding me?
1st: BBOS 6 is better
2nd: you can change the settings to send bbm's to sms (and even going to different places isn't that hard, are you that lazy?)
3rd: bbm has never been on iOS, and it isn't free, it's included when you buy the phone (same for iOS)
4th: it might be just another way to text, but it's better: groups, broadcast, etc.

You guys are fighting for nothing, have you try whatsapp, liveprofile, they are really good but I like whatsapp more. I communicated with people around the world, also, works with iPhones, droids, blackberry and nokias. So who f.. Care about bbm, o iMessage, please give a break..
We all know that blackjunk, is a dinosaur and a soon you buy a new one and get it out of the box is already obsolete.
Think guys, AppStore, droid market, app world, they offer a bunch of different messengers.

I don't think it necessary to bring BBM to the iPhone. I think there's an app for that , no pun intended , Live Profile. I
f anything I see RIM making an application for the iPhone that allows iPhone users to message blackberry users.

I used to be a big BB guy. Had 6 over 3yrs before coming to iPhone 4. Running iOS 5 using imessage compared to bbm for basic messages yea they are pretty much the same but as far as groups, group chat for large groups of friends to all chat at same time and add photos so everyone in the group can talk about it and leave comments on it. Well imessage can't compete with it. Bbm owns groups aspect for now. Saying that bbm has had groups for sometime now. Imessage is in beta 1. So given more time I would expect it to be the same if not better adding some apple flair to it!!!

Considering that BBM works thoroughly device PIN on a Blackberry device, I don't ever see it going cross platform. I like that there are options like Beluga and whatsapp but don't think anything will ever replace the convenience, power, and simplicity of BBM.

I think Apple will succeed ONLY if they manage to make it where you can message friends worldwide for free. This is what makes Blackberry 'Magical', the fact I can hit up ANY friend or family memeber in any part of the world for free without ANY international charges. If Apple can somehow, have it do the the same exact fuctionality that Blackberry does, they will succeed and you know what...that's when I will switch. As much as I love RIM, they're going at a really slow pace and making some questionable decisions that has made me think wether to stay or go. I love the new phones that are gonna be coming out but by September or later timeframe- as much as technology and the Android phone companies pump out new and improved phones, that new hardware will be obsolete. RIM should have brought out dual cores on all their phones so people can switch to QNX once it came out at the very least. 1.2ghz dual core phones would of STILL rocked by september but unfortunately by then they're gonna be outdated.

not true, bbm has kept many bb users. It's easier to stay with a native app then use third party ones. There are millions of iphone users, for example all my bestfriends have iphones. Cross platform messengers don't work because people get tired of having to install the apps and registering and checking for friends on their.

Can you turn off imessage for individual people. Just cause they have an iPhone doesn't mean I want them to have the privilege of seeing if I read their message. Also can someone explain how message is different from the iPhones group SMS feature?

I'm an iPhone 4 user but BBM still wins hands down and here's why. I could be wrong and if I am then I apologize in advance for my ignorance, but isn't a phone number required when using imessage for iphone to iphone messaging? BBM wins because among other things, a phone number isn't required. So for whatever reason you decide to give someone your pin, that's all they have in the end so they cant call your phone if you don't want em to. You control when you want to talk to them or you can just delete em and never hear from them again if you want.

Pff, BBM is push and also secure. iOS doesn't have true push on any app. This is one of the reason BIS, BES exist compared to 'just data' services for other platforms.
Besides Whatsapp filled that need for a BBM-like app just fine.

there is no real comparison between blackberry and iphone the iphone is more than just a phone. It is the future blackberry has cornered the kids market iphone user is a of speed efficiency and cutting edge technology. Although the also love the ease of use of the device.

Liveprofile is better than iMessage & BBM - it has all the good BBM qualities, simplicity of iMessage and yet is cross-platform. Only things stopping LP from taking over are: 1) resources for servers 2) bring it onto the web (e.g. remove need for BB/iPhone/Android/Nokia) 3) advertising/word-of-mouth
RIM need to take LiveProfile's approach and open it up - then Apple will need to somehow re-invent iMessage and perhaps remix iChat so to speak (which I believe used to Facetime or something?)

I use FaceTime over 3G all the time, but only because I happen to carry a wifi hotspot device (aka an Android phone) with me for laptop tethering. Works great. Granted not a solution for many. Still, I hate the Rock store and all the silly extensions it adds to the phone underneath mobilesubstrate.